"How To" Books to Bring Your Full Fun Self to Work The Power of Nice by Linda Kaplan Thaler, Robin Koval from a reader: While there is nothing revolutionary in this slim volume ("Be nice -- it's the right thing to do and it just might make your business better"), what is new and different is the wealth of examples the authors provide from their professional and personal lives, as well as the scenarios from other famous and not-so-famous people. Well-written in a smooth, conversational style, this book will serve as a much-needed reminder that cutthroat business practices aren't the only way to get ahead. "Full Fun Self" coined by Leslie Yerkes, Catalyst Consulting Group True fun is not something you choose to do; it is something you choose to be. Fun is deciding to bring the best of your whole self to work every day. Fun is being choiceful. Fun Works Creating Places Where People Love to Work by Leslie Yerkes from a reader What a radical concept - that fun and work are not mutually exclusive! Having fun at and with work can actually be beneficial both for you and your work/product/service. This is an easy to read format, with examples of actual work places to illustrate each of the "11 principles for integrating fun and work" as well as a section of "other voices" that show more examples for putting these ideas into practical use. I found this book to be a wonderful suggestion box rather than a pattern that must be followed exactly - i.e (taking the cat to work (in the operating room) is really not going to fly for me, but there are dozens of other thoughts and suggestions that can be integrated into the day to day "stuff"). Some of the companies/examples used were rather surprising, from an insurance company and an airline to a college dining service, but they just go to show that fun at/with work can occur pretty much anywhere.   The Ten Faces of Innovation IDEO'S Strategies for Beating the Devil's Advocate & Driving Creativity Throughout Your Organization by Tom Kelley with John Littman Who are Innovators?  "People implementing new ideas that create value." a definition from The Innovation Network Consultancy Tom Kelley, General Manager, IDEO author, The Ten Faces of Innovators, The Art of Innovation from a reader I was struck by the Tom's comment on page 238: "Finally, there is one fundamental element of the Caregiver I don't expect to change anytime soon. Here's a brief, impassioned artuent for an often-overlooked tool in the world of customer service: the smile... Everyone thinks innovation if expensive, but how much can a smile cost?"   Energize Your Meetings with Laughter by Sheila Feigelson from a reader Sheila Feigelson is an all-star humor-in-meetings innovator. Her book is overflowing with great ideas. I recently tried one of her tips for nametags and increased donations from my non-profit board by 25 percent. Our meetings have become more productive, and nobody throws things anymore. Thank you, Sheila! Everyone should buy this book. I'm buying ten more copies right now!   Laugh and Learn by Doni Tamblyn 95 Ways to Humor for More Effective Teaching and Training from a reader This is a "grab it and go" book that fits in your briefcase along with your handouts. If you're a trainer - nonprofit, corporate or otherwise - you know the feeling of "dead air." During the break, turn to almost any page in "Laugh and Learn" for a technique or an exercise that will uncrink your brain and ramp the room up for your returning learners. You won't become an expert in the science of humor with "Laugh and Learn." But, hey, they give degrees to people for that kind of in-depth knowledge. As a trainer, you will go as far as you like in incorporating humor into the business of teaching - safely, judiciously and successfully.